CEMEX puts the smile back on children’s faces

• DOH, CEMEX continue “Isang Milyong Sipilyo” provision for Cebu school children
   

Cement manufacturer CEMEX Holdings Philippines (CHP) continues to support the war against dental diseases when it joined the Department of Health’s (DOH) “Isang Milyong Sipilyo” program recently held in the City of Naga, Cebu. The annual program aims to give away a total of one million toothbrushes to elementary school students nationwide.

The DOH has always promoted the importance of brushing one’s teeth and leads in the observation of the Philippine Dental Health Month every February. This year, CEMEX, through its social development arm CEMEX Philippines Foundation, is again working hand in hand with the DOH and the Naga City Dental Health Office (CDHO) in the promotion of good dental hygiene.

More than 6,500 dental kits have been recently distributed by CEMEX across 10 public elementary schools in Naga, Cebu. Likewise, the students were given lectures on proper dental hygiene, with the goal of making dental care a part of the children’s daily lives.

“We’ve helped promote dental healthcare at the City of Naga since 1994 because it is an essential component of overall health, quality of life, and well-being,” explained Chito Maniago, CHP Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director and CEMEX Philippines Foundation Executive Director.

Supporting the “Isang Milyong Sipilyo” program follows an overarching thrust to increase access to overall healthcare for nation-building. “We continuously collaborate with local government units to see where we can help improve oral and overall healthcare delivery which is key to fighting diseases and having more productive citizens,” Maniago added.

As of end of February, the “Isang Milyong Sipilyo” program in the City of Naga has already reached out to the students of CEPOC Elementary School, Calavera Elementary School, Inoburan Elementary School, Mainit Elementary School, Pangdan Elementary School, Naalad Elementary School, and Langtad Elementary School.

The dental kit turnover and lecture at CEPOC Elementary School was attended by school principal Antonio Rimas and Tina-an barangay captain Jun Cantal who thanked the program for annually addressing the local dental health concerns by changing the youth’s attitude towards proper oral hygiene. Other target schools set to be visited this year include Uling Elementary School, South Poblacion School Extension, and the Naga SPED Center Elementary School.

Other healthcare initiatives of CEMEX in Naga, Cebu include supporting the construction of the new Barangay Health Center at Barangay Tina-an; support for the maintenance and operations of the infirmary at the Vicente Mendiola Center; and the donation of a new pick-up truck to assist in emergency response. Likewise, the company also donated a fully-equipped boat ambulance called “Bancambulansya” to the Municipality of Daanbantayan in northern Cebu.

The company implements these programs in Cebu through the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) of Apo Cement Corporation, a CHP subsidiary.

The social development initiatives fall under CEMEX’s “Build the Nation Together” advocacy campaign. Aside from healthcare delivery, other advocacies include ongoing projects for education, environmental stewardship, safety, skills and livelihood, volunteerism, community building, and arts and culture preservation and development.

CEMEX has a rich history of improving the welfare of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future in more than 50 countries worldwide. In the Philippines, CEMEX subsidiaries Apo Cement Corporation in Cebu and Solid Cement Corporation in Rizal produce and market a broad product mix of building solutions. These cement manufacturing plants carry the well-established cement brands Apo and Rizal. More information on CEMEX is available at www.cemexholdingsphilippines.com.